I watch the clock tick as I shake my foot knowing what will come my way any second now. I spent hours trying to come up with something convincing to report to my father about two nights ago. Unrealistically, he expects for me to be having Cassian at the tips of my fingers at this point. He's going to be extremely pissed once he knows I'm nowhere near that.

I stop shaking my foot as I hear footsteps approaching followed by the door creaking open from behind me. I stay silent not bothering to turn around just wanting this meeting over with already.

"What do you have for me?," his firm voice utters as he stand in front of me leaning his back onto his counter.

"Lastra inherited his parent's business, which he's done well in its success," I respond. I watch as his icy blue eyes are filled with annoyance as he glares at me unhappily.

"Tell me something I don't know?," he grumbles as he clenches his jaw.

"When I asked about his parents. He walked away, so I'm not sure if they're dead or alive yet," I add hoping this can maybe buy me another day of not dealing with him. Suddenly, he strikes me his hand slapping me across the cheek. I don't say anything nor make any noise only holding the pain in.

"I said tell me something I don't know you worthless whore. Of course his parents are deceased because I made sure of that years ago," he angrily says his fists clenched at his sides.

"I-I'm sorry, I need more time to get close boss," I say. And just within seconds his hand grips around my neck as I'm lifted up from the chair. My hands are clutched onto his hand trying to loosen his grip onto me to allow myself to breathe. However, he tightens his grip even more as I begin to gasp for air. I try not to scream because there's no way I want to give the satisfaction to this man to see me weak and fearful.

"That's right, always remember your life is in my hands. I decide your fate on this planet. You should be grateful I didn't kill you all those years ago after your mother's passing," he coldly grumbles his eyes burning in hatred for me.

"You're that ugly and unappealing that you can't get this dog onto you. Now I'll have to speed it up for you... pathetic woman," he spits as he lets go of my neck as I desperately I begin to cough and inhale air into my lungs. Before I can even look up at him. I feel a sudden punch onto my right side of my face near my eye area.

The whole world goes black after that.

-
-

"A-are you alright?," Penelope asks so concerned as she can't stop staring at me. I tried to conceal as much as I could the reminder my father decided to leave, but even with much makeup you can still tell the bruising.

"Would you believe a doorknob did it?," I blankly say as I continue to log into my computer.

"Are you in a domestic violence relationship? Please confide in me I can help you," Penelope murmurs as she rushes to me. I mentally roll my eyes knowing she could never help me. Even if she tried she would immediately be taken out by my father or his men.

No one could ever help me.

"No, I'm clumsy that's all. Now please let me get my work done," I say averting away from her hoping she kicks rocks. I really don't have the time nor the energy to deal with humans today. Penelope doesn't say anything as she turns around heading towards her desk. As she takes a seat she glances at me worriedly, but doesn't further question as she starts typing on her keyboard.

After a few hours of handling work duties, I decide to take a bathroom break. Making my way over the restroom I take out my phone to see the time hoping I'm almost out of here. I really need to hit the bar for a breather. Seeing the time I sigh still needing a couple of hours to go before I can call it a day here. As I was about to look up to see my surroundings I bump against a hard chest that causes my phone to slip out of my hand.

"Watch where you're going," I grumble as I go pick up my phone from the floor.

"Someone is having a rough day," a familiar voice I've become familiar with utters catching my complete attention. As soon as I lock eyes with Cassian, his facial expression becomes concerned at the sight of me.

"Althea is that a black eye?," he sternly asks as he gets closer to observe me. I'm unsure of what to even say that the next best thing I did was just run away from him. As soon as I reach the restroom I run inside looking at myself towards the mirror. Of course, the concealer sucks exposing more of the bruising around my eye.

Suddenly, the door bursts open as Cassian walks in coming face to face with me.

"You're in the women's restroom," I mumble looking for a way to curve him.

"That's the last of my concern. Now tell me who did this to you?," he bluntly asks.

"Yeah, I'm not doing this. I have to go," I hastily say as I try to curve him. However, every attempt I try to walk pass him, he blocks.

"A doorknob accidentally hit me as I was tying my shoe. Should I sue the person or what?," I say crossing my arms across my chest. His gray eyes intently observe me most likely not believing a word that's coming out of my mouth.

"I'm going to need you to go downstairs to the employee health center to get your eye checked out alright?," he advises as he continues to look at me.

"That's very unnecessary. I'm fine," I say annoyedly.

"Yeah, guess I'll have to go with you. Come on let's go," he sternly says. I huff as I follow behind him.

"This is a waste of my time. There's a certain time I have to catch a ride back home," I complain as I walk beside Cassian. As we walk pass everyone I can't help, but notice all eyes are on us. I scrunch my brows together unsure of why this is even happening.

"Don't worry, I'll give you a ride home," he responds. My mouth opens slightly to protest against it, but then I remember this is exactly what I need to start getting closer to him. Now I see why this black eye played its part.

"Your girlfriend won't mind?," I ask remembering that pink haired woman from the Halloween party.

Cassian chuckles slightly at my question, "I don't have a girlfriend."

"You don't? Sorry, I just assumed considering that circumstances I walked into," I directly say raising a brow relieved to hear this. As I won't have to worry about an extra obstacle.

"About that I apologize for the way I talked to you," Cassian tells me as we both walk into the elevator.

"Well yeah that was wrong of you, but I do understand the reaction. If that was me I would probably do the same I guess," I slightly giggle. His eyes fall onto me before he says, "you get down like that?"

We both stay glued onto one another as I witness his eyes scroll down quickly onto my exposed breasts peeking through my blouse. Bingo, the dog has finally slipped up. The elevator alerts us that we reached our destination as we both look away from one another. Once the elevator door opens, I step out with Cassian following me.

"She needs this injury checked out immediately," Cassian demands the front desk receptionist as she immediately signals for me to follow behind her.

"Thanks," I murmur to him even though this is a complete waste of time. I appreciate the nice gesture something I'm not familiar with.

"No problem, I'll be waiting to take you home," he smiles as I proceed inside. A smile unknowingly forms on my lips as I follow the receptionist.

-
-

After a little while of examinations, I was cleared from the center. Great to know there's nothing broken or anything like that. Just swollen and bruising which I already knew. Wouldn't be the first time as I'm an expert by now. I walk down the hallway into the waiting room as I greet the fellow coworkers. To my surprise, there sits the Lastra mobster calmly tapping on the screen of his cell phone. He actually waited? Now for some reason, this surprises me a lot. Truly, thought he'd just go about his day or at least be in his office waiting to be informed.

As the front desk receptionist says her goodbye to me this causes him to look up. Our eyes meeting once again, "Wow, you waited," I say as I approach him.

"Of course, why wouldn't I?," he calmly responds as he stands up from the chair. I'm unsure of what to say, so I just find myself slightly smiling as my eyes avert down to the ground.

"Come on, let's get you home," he steers the subject as I follow him out of this place. I quickly start planning on where to be dropped off as there's no way he could ever know my true location. Immediately, I think back to this small home I really am fascinated by. It's a place I tend to go during the holidays to admire the beautiful decorations the family living there never fails to put up.

On our way to the location I gave him. I begin to plan on how to get closer to him. After yesterday's lesson I definitely need to start throwing myself at this guy.

"So are you ever going to tell me how that black eye happened?," Cassian murmurs breaking me away from my thoughts.

"I said the truth the first time," I respond.

"To me it looks like someone laid it on you truthfully," he bluntly says. Great, he must think a boyfriend must have done this.

"Well I'm telling you it's not that. I already told you what happened," I respond.

"Alright if you say so, I believe you then," he replies as he glances at me.

"Since I feel interrogated now it's my turn to interrogate you. So tell me Mr. Lastra, how does a man end up between someone legs that isn't their partner?," I bluntly ask as I raise a brow at him. Immediately after he hears my question he almost chokes on the gulp of water he took from his water bottle. I watch in amusement as he coughs trying his best to not look a mess in front of me.

"You're very direct I must say," he says as he clears his throat.

"I've been told that before. So?," I reply indicating to him that I'm waiting for the answer which he notices and slightly smirks.

"Since you must know, there's times a man just wants to be wild with no strings attached nor any commitment," he explains as he keeps his eyes on the road.

"I always say men just need periods, so those hormones can be controlled." I say shaking my head playfully. This comment causes laughter inside the car between both of us. I can't help, but witness his face as he laughs. For someone who always has a distant serious face expression. It's nice seeing him humorous and not so hostile.

"You got jokes, I like that," he says as he begins to slow down pulling to the side of the sidewalk.

"It's nice seeing you laugh. I have to be honest you have a nice laugh," I share as I place my hand on the door handle ready to exit the vehicle. However, before I could do this. I feel a warm hand gently grasp my other hand bringing me to a halt as I turn around to see him.

"Thank you for the laugh I needed that," he smiles as his gray eyes pierce into mine. Those eyes of his are so dominant, strong, and at the same time beautiful I must truly admit.

"Of course and a big thank you for the ride," I smile back at him as he lets go of my hand letting me proceed in exiting his vehicle.

"Beautiful home you have there. Like the decorations," he says as I close the door.

"T-thank you again," I say as I watch him drive off being left with my own thoughts.

I look at the house as a smile forms on my lips taking a glance at the decorations Cassian also noticed before I start walking away to my true home.